Encounters and Menaces

Axel

“Axel, how about I pick you out a nice studded collar?” Harper’s words barely registered as I turned my head to glance at him, my face a mask of dry amusement.

“If I didn’t like you, Harper, I’d have beaten the crap out of you by now,” I retorted, earning a slight shake of his head.

“You’d be a mess without me,” Harper shot back, his tone light.

“And you’d be six feet under without me,” I countered, a smirk playing on my lips.

“Fair point,” Harper conceded, his attention returning to the road as he drove. I leaned back in the passenger seat, one foot propped up on the lower part of the door, my arm resting on my knee. I despised these meetings with other alphas and leaders. Part of me yearned to attack them all, to seize what they had. But the rational part of me knew better than to act on such primal instincts.

“Is our problem alpha going to be there?” Harper’s question pulled me from my thoughts. My eyes narrowed as we neared the meeting place. A low growl rumbled in my throat at the thought of Nate. If he dared to challenge me, he’d be a dead man in seconds.

“You mean the spineless leader of North Pack? No, he’s using our relocation of goods as an excuse to skip the meeting. But he’ll be on the conference call. I suspect he’s avoiding the meeting because it would raise too many questions about who owns what we took,” I replied, earning a sigh of relief from Harper.

“No one would shed a tear if you took him out,” Harper commented, his tone darkening.

“He won’t stay in power for long. I’m already considering challenging him. Did you know he planned to breed Layla while keeping her sister by his side? All because he thinks Layla is weak since she’s an omega?” I asked, my eyes darkening as I turned to look at Harper. I saw his jaw clench, a hint of black in his own eyes.

“He clearly didn’t see her worth. Breeding she-wolves is illegal,” Harper stated, his gaze fixed on the road ahead as we parked.

“Exactly. And that’s just one more reason for me to rip his throat out. The laws aren’t being enforced in the territories. We’re left to govern ourselves. But I can assure you, he won’t be around much longer if I have anything to say about it,” I declared, my tone firm.

“Good,” Harper responded, his voice edged with anger. Knowing what almost happened to his sister, I understood why this was personal for him. The more I learned about Nate’s plans for Layla, the more I despised him. If a she-wolf wasn’t mated, conception was difficult. But during their cycle, an unmated she-wolf could become pregnant. It was rare, but it happened, and omegas had the highest chance. Nate wouldn’t go unpunished for this. His disrespect toward Layla wouldn’t go unnoticed. Regardless of how long we’d known each other, or whether this was before or not.

We entered the meeting place, and immediately, I wanted to leave. I wasn’t fond of large gatherings. I didn’t like being surrounded by potential enemies. Harper stood by my side, silent and strong. He was one of the few I trusted completely. We were practically brothers at this point, and that was saying something. I had no family left, my life was riddled with betrayal. I was a lycan, raised in a time of war and brutal pack politics. So yeah, I had some fucking issues.

This meeting was a load of crap. Some were on a conference call. We usually had one big meeting every few months to ensure all territories were abiding by common laws and rules. Mostly, it was just a chance for everyone to complain. This time, a lot of the complaints were directed at me.

“Yes, I did,” I admitted, not denying that I’d taken drugs from the North hospital. The thing about this group, half of them seemed to think they could corner me. As if accusing me of something would make me back down. Hell no. I’d tell them straight to their face if I’d taken something. If I’d attacked. I knew it didn’t make me popular, but it did earn me respect. It had been a long time since I couldn’t justify my actions.

“Care to explain why you couldn’t resolve this peacefully?” a large, powerful fae asked. I just shrugged.

“Is anyone going to help take it back, or are we just going to stand here complaining about the North and River territories like children? Those drugs were supposed to be delivered to me, and then I would’ve distributed them. I’ve never failed to do so, and my word is good, whether you like me or not. Did you not receive what you paid for?” I asked, scanning the room. All the territories that had received their shipments today fell silent.

“That’s what I thought. How about we ask North Pack and River Coven why they’ve been taking extra shipments off transports and into their territories? No one died because of what I did. But I believe there are seven who did die because they didn’t get their medications in time due to this.” The room fell silent again. I was fine being blamed, even if I wasn’t the only territory that had attacked a few places a few days ago. The others would have to answer for their actions.

“Nate or Kavin? A lot of us would like to know why you had a surplus. Despite the proper distribution, you shouldn’t have had it in your hospitals or storage facilities,” another voice chimed in, and the room fell silent once more.

“I’m not required to return what was misdelivered to me,” Nate finally responded. A few heads shook in disbelief. Some had died because he’d kept what he shouldn’t have.

“I wasn’t asked to return it,” Nate added.

“That’s bullshit. I have plenty of records showing you were asked to return it. I’ve saved evidence of your lies, Nathan,” I retorted. No one was surprised by my blunt words.

“Says the man who kidnapped my mate and future luna. Where is she? Everyone’s worried about their drugs, but my mate was taken and no one’s said a word. Axel does whatever he wants, takes whatever he wants. He should be held accountable. How many times has he acted like the animal he is, and you’ve just let him?” Nate’s voice echoed over the conference call.

“She’s my true mate, and she’s not being held against her will. There’s nothing to discuss regarding this. If I’m not mistaken, didn’t you say that her sister Ashley was to be by your side? Unless you were planning on using Layla as a breeder, which is illegal and grounds for dismissal or challenge of pack lands,” I responded calmly. The room buzzed with murmurs.

“I’m not currently mated. You have no grounds for that accusation. You’re just trying to deflect blame onto me. I absolutely planned to have Layla as my mate, and she agreed…”

“Why don’t we discuss this privately, outside of council time, Nathan?” I suggested, using his full name with a hint of sarcasm, knowing he hated it.

“I think that would be best. The female in question hasn’t requested aid and was seen earlier today. She appears to be in good health and isn’t being held captive. This will be a personal matter between the two of you,” a voice chimed in, and I couldn’t help but smile. Nate wasn’t going to get his way.

None of the wolves in the room would challenge my claim that Layla was my true mate. A couple of council members had visited my pack lands earlier to verify the claim that I was holding a luna hostage. I took them to the hospital, and Layla confirmed that she wasn’t being held against her will. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what she would say. There were witnesses to me carrying her off, which was why they came. But she did confirm that she was my true mate. She had no intention of mating with Nate of North Pack. She had been planning to leave, which was a huge relief for me. We didn’t know each other well yet.

The bond would allow us to become mentally and physically one, and we would know each other on a deeper level. But for now, it was hard to know. I knew what I wanted, but she was strong and fearless. If she wanted to, she could have made it clear then that she wanted to leave. But she didn’t, and that eased the fears I pretended I didn’t have. As I said, I had some fucking issues, okay?

Finally, after another hour of pointless chatter, we were done. I just wanted to roll my eyes and leave. But a look from Harper reminded me that we had to play nice. I was lucky to have him as my beta. I knew that, but I still didn’t like being told to relax. I tolerated it from him, which was why he was in his position. He was good at reading me.

As we prepared to depart, a couple of other territories intercepted me. They had both assisted in recovering the stolen medications and drugs. They were allies, strong in their own right, albeit smaller territories. My territory was vast, boasting the highest number of lycans, along with a substantial number of robust wolves and other species. My people were a formidable force, and everyone was aware of it. I commanded a loyalty that surpassed most. That’s the reward of fighting alongside your people, not from behind a screen.

After discussing plans for hospital supplies to fortify my hospital, we were ready to leave. Night was creeping in, and I was eager to return home. For more than one reason. I was thrilled at the prospect of seeing Layla and picking up where we left off. I was fervently hoping she was in her cycle.

To be honest, I never anticipated being so profoundly affected by my mate. Perhaps the intensity was due to her being my true mate. This yearning, this need, had never existed for me until I met those captivating silver eyes that sparkled with such fire. Harper was right, I might as well get a collar.

“Well, that could have gone worse,” Harper commented as we drove back. My leg was jittering slightly as I sat lost in thought. I was about to respond when my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen and raised an eyebrow. The incoming call was from an unknown number, but something told me to answer it.

“Who’s this?” I asked, my tone sharp.

“You can’t keep getting away with this shit.” Ah, it was fuck boy on the other end.

“I’m impressed you managed to get my personal number, Nate. Good for you. But I really don’t have time to chat with insignificant pests like you.” Harper was grinning.

“Don’t you dare hang up! You might have everyone else fooled or scared, but not me. I want the shipments you took, not just from the hospital. And you’re going to return my female to me, or we’re going to war, Axel.” His voice was monotonous, making me lose interest.

“Well, then we’re at war. I know nothing about any shipments other than what I returned. And as for Layla.” I made sure to emphasize her name. His female, huh? I was going to tear this guy’s throat out. He couldn’t even call her by her name, and she was not his.

“You can’t return a living, breathing person. She made her choice. She’s with me, we’re true mates. There’s nothing more to discuss,” I stated.

“I know you’re holding her against her will. She’s an omega, and you’re lycan scum. There’s no way she’d choose you. She’s mine. Return her or face the consequences.”

It was clear to me that Layla was a possession to him. He didn’t see her as a person, but an object to control.

“Funny, she wasn’t calling your name when I marked her. She was begging for more,” I said, knowing it would infuriate him. “Threaten me all you want, but if you threaten her, you’ll find my teeth in your neck while you sleep.” I hung up as he started to respond, turned off my phone, and tossed it into the holder next to me.

“He’s a piece of work,” Harper remarked.

“Yes, he is. I’m going to challenge him for his territory,” I declared. His actions had sealed his fate.

“Don’t worry, I’ll play by the rules so the claim can’t be contested,” I added, noticing Harper’s raised eyebrow.

That bastard was going to be six feet under. But I pushed that thought to the back of my mind. He wasn’t my main concern. Layla was. The sooner we were mated and bound, the sooner no one could try to take her from me.